World number one Rafael Nadal is aiming to finish the 2013 season on a high by winning this week’s Paris Masters and next week’s ATP World Tour Finals titles. Nadal has not won the year-end event yet.
Nadal opted to rest and skip the Swiss Indoors Basel tournament last week and was seen spending time with friends and family. The Spaniard is back in action this week at the Palais Omnisports in Bercy for the Paris Masters tournament, a first since 2009.
“The last tournament of the year is important,” said Nadal. “I have never had the chance to play very well in London. In 2010 I played well; the rest I played really bad. I want to try to change that.”
“I was always motivated for this last part of the season, but I was not able to apply it well. I hope this year I can change that situation. I hope to play well here and then we’ll see.”
Nadal’s best finish at the ATP World Tour Finals was a runner-up effort in 2010 where he lost to six-time winner Roger Federer.
“What makes me happy is going on court ever day with a feeling that I am healthy, with the feeling that I am playing well, and the feeling that I can lose and I can win against everybody,” said Nadal.
“That happened for most of the tournaments this year. I did much more than what I thought. I am going to try to finish well here and in London. If I am able to play well and I finish No. 1, great. If not, it doesn’t change the season as being one of the best of my career without any doubt.
“I enjoyed probably more than ever [being able to] play tennis the whole year. [They have been] very emotional matches this year [because of] the situation that I had last year. All the things that happened to me are more than what I ever dreamed eight months ago, so that makes me play very relaxed with less pressure.”
The 27-year old is aiming to win a sixth ATP Masters 1000 title this season following his five Masters 1000 wins in Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, Montreal and Cincinnati.
“I’m excited to be back in Paris,” Nadal, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, said. “Paris is a very special city for me. Probably the most special city in the world. It’s a great tournament. I haven’t had the chance to be here for different [reasons] for the past four years, so I am very happy and excited to be back.”
